Zephyr

Aroma: smells hoppy on the fruity citrusy side Looks: looks great. Golden amber, thin even lace over beer, slight haze. Taste: Huh. Is that Calypso, a hop I've never had? It's weird. It's not bad, it's interesting. When I had Citra for the first time, it was a no brainer- that's a great hop. This Citra, I'll keep drinking it. To figure it out. Do I like it and it's different? Or is it just bad? It's not so bad that I'd dump it. It's just so different than normal, I can't make up my mind. It's very flavorful, but there is this 'twang' bitterness in the end. It makes it.... old fruit flavor. Sort of good, but maybe I should have skipped it. It's funky in the end. Short big bitter.

Pours quite cloudy, verging on opaque. Foam is thick and off-white. Great retention with wispy lacing that clings to the glass. Aroma is caramel and bread malts that are balanced by citrus, fruit hops. The calypso adds an apple scent that I don't know if I like in the profile. Taste is slightly sweet with bread while the middle brings in a strange flavor: maybe grass, earth, or tea. Citrus with pear and apple highlights come in the end from the hops. Grapefruit centered bitterness that lingers: typical Cascade. Medium body with a medium or better carbonation. Dries the palate some. This is a well made beer but the profile, especially the end, leaves me wondering. What is it? I have come to expect more from my occasional Rising Tide beer. Possibly the yeast and hops that don't work well together. Enjoy!

Pours a cloudy pale amber color with quarter inch frothy white head. Good retention on the head with lacing sheeting down the sides of the glass. The aroma is a blend of bready caramel malts with a some what mild citrus hop. The taste is again malt up front which quickly moves into an earthy straw type flavor. The earthy flavor continues into the finish with a blend of sweetness and bitterness. Some light spice with some light fruit flavors that remind me of pears is noticeable in the finish. Light body with medium carbonation. Grainy mouth feel. Overall an interesting beer, but seems a little off balance and the earthy hops are a little bit foigen to my palate. I don't dislike this beer, but it leaves me wondering what I am tasting.